EXMOUTH 2nds slipped to a two wicket defeat when they travelled to Paignton.

The seconds opened with Third XI wicket keeper Mark Dawe and Michael Collinge and, at the half way mark of the innings, the score board showed 73-2 with both openers back in the pavilion.

The latter innings impetus came from Richard Arnold (30) and Ashton Collinge (27) who put on 56 for the sixth wicket. There was also a useful contribution of 29 from Danny Lowman and the late runs came from Dave Owen and George Greenway who put on 27 at a run a ball to see Exmouth to a close of 185-8.

Matt Tarry struck early in the home side’s reply, removing one of the openers in the first over after tea but the second wicket, also taken by Tarry, did not fall until 43. Tarry also claimed the third wicket but, from 59-3 the hosts began to take charge and it was not until 124 were on the board in the 26th over that the fourth wicket was taken.

From this position of relative strength it was a fairly easy run chase despite the best efforts of Tarry who returned for a second spell to claim a well deserved fivefer. Paignton closed the game out and a two wicket win with Tarry finishing with figures of 5-47 and George Greenway, Jamie Tapper and the left arm spin of Jack Sergeant, responsible for a wicket each.

Exmouth Chairman, Peter Langford who is also the 2nd XI scorer, said: “We were twenty or so runs light and had we been able to muster the extra runs I think we may have gone on to win the game ourselves.”